School boards welcome new faces

Newly elected Oxnard Union High School District board member Gary Davis converses with other board members during the meeting Wednesday night.

Ventura County Star

Local school boards are seeing new faces this week as victors in the November elections are sworn in during ceremonies across the county. Five first-time office holders took their oaths in Oxnard-area districts, promising a new voice and a fresh perspective.

The youngest to take on the responsibilities of a school board trustee is Vianey Lopez, who surprised the Hueneme School District by surpassing two incumbents by wide margins. Lopez, a program coordinator for the Oxnard Downtown Management District, is 25.

Lopez concedes it's a bit overwhelming learning the ropes to her new job and having the first board meeting just days after the election results were certified. The Pepperdine University graduate, who got a master's degree in public policy, is reminded of her professor who once told her that understanding all the reading materials required of an elected official is akin to drinking from a fire hydrant.

"That's the feeling I have, from all the legalities to the Brown Act," said Lopez, who is a product of Sunkist Elementary and E.O. Green Junior High School. "At this point, I'm just trying to take it all in."

Hueneme School District Trustee Rafael Ramos, who has been on the board for two decades, said it's great that young people such as Lopez and the new Oxnard Councilwoman Dorina Padilla, 25, are becoming political leaders.

"It's gonna be very interesting to see how (Lopez) does and a new cadre of young people who won elections," Ramos said. "It's exciting. It's almost like the torch is being passed to a younger generation and future political leaders."

Ramos, who won re-election by a margin of 72 votes, said he hopes Lopez's victory will encourage other young people to seek elective office.

"People, and myself included, we've been doing this too long, in some ways," said Ramos, 55. "It's good that that's changing."

In the Oxnard Union High School District, the newest face on the school board is also a familiar face.

Trustee Gary Davis worked for the high school district for four decades, starting out as a teacher and later becoming superintendent. Davis, 69, left retirement Wednesday when he was sworn-in at his first board meeting, which was attended by his wife, children and grandchildren.

"I appreciate them seeing me through the campaign and asking good questions such as, 'Dad, why would you want to do this again?' " Davis said. "They were behind me all the way."

Davis, the only Oxnard resident on the board, is joined by Trustee Steven Hall, 44, as the newest board members for the district, which serves Oxnard, Camarillo and nearby areas. The two were elected in November when longtime Trustees Steve Stocks and Dick Jaquez chose not to seek another term. Stocks served on the board for 24 years, Jaquez for 12.

Hall, who leads the local chapter of the American Federation of Teachers, said he's "100 percent prepared" for the job.

"I'm really looking forward to getting started," he said. "I'm looking forward to working with other board members."

His willingness to hit the ground running has come in handy. The school board on Thursday attended a six-hour workshop facilitated by a California School Boards Association consultant.

Two newcomers were welcomed to the Rio School District board on Thursday during a meeting that marked a new chapter for a board that is known for being divisive.

"I'm excited," said Celia Robles, 50, a vice president of the local California School Employees Association. "I have a good feeling about our new team."

Robles and Matthew Klinefelter, a Los Angeles Unified School District high school principal, were appointed to the board in lieu of an election. They were the only two candidates seeking the seats left vacant when Mike Barber and Tim Blaylock chose not to run.

The new board members join a superintendent who is also new to the district. Superintendent John Puglisi was hired in July.

"In the past, it's been tumultuous," said Klinefelter, 41. "This is a kinder, gentler board. I think with the new superintendent, as a team, we can do some new and creative things for the district."

Elsewhere in the county, the Simi Valley Unified School District welcomed newcomer Dan White, the Pleasant Valley School District welcomed Kelly Long and the Briggs School District welcomed Victoria Jump.